Coffee shops with decent patios in Twin Cities (Minneapolis, St. Paul: house, neighborhood)

[pannierpacker]

So.. I live in the Marcy Holmes area. Don't get me wrong, Expresso Royale is a good coffee shop, but in my opinion, the patio leaves something to be desired. I've been digging Nokomois Beach Coffee lately because it's sidewalk patio is enormous and the traffic on the roads nearby doesn't seem to be moving buy as quickly. Also, there is plenty of tree coverage. And the coffee is good too.

Does anyone else have any favorites that are worth checking out? Let's keep the scope the Minneapolis and St. Paul, since that is the name of this forum.

[Cruz Azul Guy]

Good topic. I'd love to see some other suggestions here. For me the Day by Day Cafe in St Paul is more of a restaurant/coffee shop combo, but has a cool garden patio vibe going for it. I also like some of the coffee shops off of Hennepin Ave in Uptown Mpls. Uncommon Grounds has a nice little set-up from a converted house with some seating in the front porch area. I also like the Dunn Bros at about 25th and Hennepin and how they can open up the large front windows when its nice out to give it a sort of open-air feel.

[Ursicinus]

I'm always up for finding new coffee shops, too. Yesterday we checked out Patisserie 46 on the corner of 46th and Grand. Nice, busy little corner neighborhood coffee shop kind of place. Not a ton of outdoor seating, but there are a few tables outside where you can enjoy the nice weather under some trees, and since it's just kind of in a random spot in Kingfield, it's not like you're sharing your table with everyone who needs to use the sidewalk, the way you do at Espresso Royale in Dinkytown.

[Atalanta]

Washington Square Bar and Grill in White Bear Lake has a nice patio off of a busy street.
And they allow dogs on the patio

[Citykid3785]

Five watt
Peace
Groundswell
Sunstreet breads

[considering]

This is a great thread. I am a consultant and work from coffee shops quite a bit.

Quixotic Coffee in Saint Paul has great coffee and a bit of an outdoor sidewalk area. As a bonus, you can eat at Highland Grill and order Q coffee from them too. It gets crowded so maybe not the best place to park forever.

Gigi's Cafe around 36th and Lyndale. Nice patio. The people that work there are super friendly. Good coffee, strong wi-fi, and I like the food. They often have enough room to where I can stay for a bit and keep working and not feel like I'm holding a table too long. I find it to be a good place to bring my husband or kid too if we have a chance to be out together - food and drinks that fit many nutritional angles.

I second Five Watt - so far my favorite coffee in the area (still new though). Not so much for food.

Thanks!

[Citykid3785]

Originally Posted by considering

This is a great thread. I am a consultant and work from coffee shops quite a bit.

Quixotic Coffee in Saint Paul has great coffee and a bit of an outdoor sidewalk area. As a bonus, you can eat at Highland Grill and order Q coffee from them too. It gets crowded so maybe not the best place to park forever.

Gigi's Cafe around 36th and Lyndale. Nice patio. The people that work there are super friendly. Good coffee, strong wi-fi, and I like the food. They often have enough room to where I can stay for a bit and keep working and not feel like I'm holding a table too long. I find it to be a good place to bring my husband or kid too if we have a chance to be out together - food and drinks that fit many nutritional angles.

I second Five Watt - so far my favorite coffee in the area (still new though). Not so much for food.

Thanks!

I second Quixotic, my wife actually works there. Bias aside, they have the most friendly, neighborhood with lots of regulars type vibe of all the third wave coffee shops. Agree the "patio" is only a few small tables and chairs on the sidewalk.